Chapter 8: Covering Face to Refuse Inspection

“Madam Kong, Sun Changshun, who did you say you saw?”

As soon as Old Master finished speaking, Leng Mingye’s sharp gaze swept over the people present, and the smile on his lips vanished instantly.

In that moment, the carefree young master who had been tapping his fingers like a celestial being watching a show was gone, replaced by an indescribable coldness and menace. His eyes, in particular, were filled with a violent and sinister aura, like a storm brewing on the horizon.

The entire hall grew quiet because of his words. After a few faint gasps, even the sound of breathing became almost inaudible.

Wanqing and the other young ladies stood at the front. Though she didn’t raise her head, she felt as if she were standing in front of an air conditioner in the middle of summer, her body covered in cold sweat.

This guy’s presence is way too overpowering, isn’t it? Just sitting there, he’s already scared everyone stiff. Thinking about what she had done to him, she also suppressed her breathing.

“Young Master, there are so many people here, we, we…” Then she heard two trembling voices.

“Look at them one by one. You must find that person, or else your heads won’t be staying on your necks much longer.”

His voice was cold and emotionless, undeniably magnetic in its deep tone, but his words made Wanqing’s heart race with unease.

From his perspective, she had covered her face with cloth back then. As long as she didn’t admit it, he might not recognize her. But these two—she couldn’t help but worry.

“Yes, yes…”

The two of them hurriedly agreed, and then footsteps descended the steps one after another, heading toward them.

Remembering that the madam and the man named Sun Changshun had both seen her face, Wanqing quietly gripped a silver needle in her sleeve.

Just as the woman in embroidered shoes reached her elder sister Mu Wanxia, Wanqing suddenly trembled, her legs giving way as she collapsed to the ground.

“Ah…” As she fell, she let out a soft cry and raised her face, which was filled with terror and fear, covered in fine sweat.

In an instant, she lowered her head again in fright, struggling to stand but unable to muster the strength. She flailed desperately, only to collapse once more.

“You—Young Master, it’s her! It’s this girl…”

With just one glance, Madam Kong, who was walking ahead, recognized her. First shocked, then ecstatic, she turned with a fawning smile toward Leng Mingye.

“Her? This girl is so scared at the sight of me that she can’t even stand. Besides, standing among the young ladies, Madam Kong, are you sure it’s her?”

At Wanqing’s behavior, Leng Mingye smirked disdainfully, ignoring her petite figure still struggling to rise. He lounged lazily in his chair and asked flippantly.

“Young Master, this…”

At his words, Madam Kong’s expression shifted. Though she had only glanced once, Leng Mingye’s question made her initial certainty waver. Trembling with unease, she stepped forward.

“Madam Kong, this is my second daughter. She’s been timid since childhood and has never seen such a grand occasion. Look at her—she can’t even stand properly. How could she be the one who colluded with bandits to infiltrate your establishment and injure the Young Master? You can’t just decide it’s my daughter at a glance. If word spreads, not only will I have trouble explaining to the Young Master, but how will I ever face my colleagues again?”

As soon as Madam Kong spoke, Mu Zhenfeng’s expression darkened. He straightened his posture, defending his daughter—though more for the sake of his own reputation.

“Exactly, Madam Kong, you should look carefully before speaking. Don’t wrong an innocent person, or even I might be implicated. Lift your head, young lady.”

Seeing Mu Zhenfeng’s reaction, Sun Changshun realized that both the man they were identifying and General Mu were forces not to be trifled with. More importantly, this involved a young lady’s reputation. If things escalated, neither of them would come out unscathed.

Though terrified, he still complained to Madam Kong before walking up to Mu Wanxia with an official tone.

“Young Master Sun, look carefully. I’ve always been dutifully serving my parents in the inner courtyard.” Mu Wanxia, true to her status as the eldest daughter of the General’s household, lifted her head with a composed smile.

“Young Lady Mu, this humble one greets you.”

Faced with Mu Wanxia’s serene, flawless beauty, Sun Changshun immediately recognized her—the renowned talent and beauty of Daqi’s noble circles, one of the capital’s two great beauties.

The other was Princess Qingyang, Wu Qingyang, who had the backing of the royal family and was thus unapproachable. But Mu Wanxia was different.

Enchanted by her modest smile, Sun Changshun’s eyes lit up, his mind filled only with her shy, delicate charm. Emboldened by lust, he clasped his hands in salute.

“Sun Changshun, what I want is a result.”

Mu Wanxia had only intended a polite greeting, but the way Sun Changshun stared at her with greedy eyes made her inwardly recoil in disgust, though she lowered her head.

Though Sun Changshun’s voice was low, Leng Mingye, seated on the high platform, casually lifted a hand to adjust his hair. A faint current of air shot from his sleeve, striking the back of Sun Changshun’s head.

The starry-eyed admirer yelped in pain, staggering to the ground.

“Young Master, spare me! Spare me! I’ll go identify her right away, right away!”

Feeling the pain behind his ear, Sun Changshun touched it and found his hand covered in blood. Glancing at Leng Mingye, who sat elegantly with an inscrutable smile, he kowtowed frantically.

“If you still can’t identify her, a scratch on your neck will be the least of your worries…”

Leng Mingye’s flippant words, spoken as he examined his palm, turned Sun Changshun and Madam Kong pale with fear.

“Hurry up! If we’re late, not only will we lose our lives, but everyone here will suffer because of you!”

Seeing Sun Changshun’s bleeding neck, Madam Kong shuddered at the thought of such a wound on herself. Panicked, she dragged Sun Changshun toward Wanqing.

“Indeed, Young Master Sun, you’d better look carefully. Otherwise, my General’s household will be unjustly accused of plotting against the Young Master.” Mu Zhenfeng hadn’t expected Leng Mingye to draw blood in his own home.

Though Sun Changshun was the son of Vice Minister Sun, if something happened to him here, Mu Zhenfeng would still be implicated. Thus, he played the mediator.

“Right, right. Second Young Lady Mu, even if your legs are weak, please lift your head. Unless you’re guilty and afraid to show your face? Madam Kong, her face…”

Under Mu Zhenfeng’s urging, Sun Changshun, sweating profusely, hunched over and approached Wanqing.

As they neared, Wanqing, who had been struggling to rise, now pressed her head even lower. Recalling Madam Kong’s earlier reaction, Sun Changshun eyed her suspiciously.

“Second Young Lady Mu, just lift your head. If it’s not you, then there’s nothing to worry about. Your behavior is only making things difficult for us—and for the General.”

Despite keeping her head down, Wanqing heard everything clearly. Instead of complying, she clutched her face tighter, trembling, her lips pressed together as if terrified of being seen.

Her reaction deepened Madam Kong and Sun Changshun’s suspicions. Though they didn’t dare act rashly in the General’s household, they pressed on, invoking Mu Zhenfeng’s authority.

“Second Young Lady Mu, whether it’s you or not, just let us see your face. If you anger the Young Master like this, not only us, but your father and everyone here will suffer. Lift your head, won’t you?”

Madam Kong’s words made Sun Changshun sense something amiss. Glancing fearfully at Leng Mingye—whose expression remained unreadable—and Mu Zhenfeng’s livid face, he reached out to pull Wanqing’s hands away.

“No! It’s not me! Don’t touch me! Don’t! You can’t see my face, you can’t…”

Remembering how this man had harassed her when she first transmigrated, and how Madam Kong had been complicit, Wanqing inwardly sneered. As Sun Changshun reached for her, she trembled violently, screaming and clutching her face desperately.